Skagit River Salmon Festival 2019

SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

SALMON FESTIVAL

Saturday, September 7 • 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Edgewater Park, Westside Mount Vernon Kids Free | Adults $5 | SkagitRiverFest.org

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD AND ANACORTES AMERICAN

Festival is a Community Celebration This year marks the eighth annual Skagit River Salmon Festival.

Edgewater Park is a beautiful spot to spend the day celebrating the mighty Skagit River and what it means to all our communities. The Festival offers terrific mix of new activities and entertainment you won’t want to miss, with something for every interest—young or old.

For family-fun, we have Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) an Oregon-based family performer who weaves folk-songs and puppetry into high-energy shows for all ages. We also have the talented Seattle-based bands Marina and the Dreamboats with their jazz-blues sound, and the swirling Brazilian rhythms and irresistible melodies of En Canto Brazilian Orchestra. To round things out, the Warren G. Hardings, an award-winning dance string band, hearken back to their forefathers with a unique brand of up-tempo bluegrass.

Visitors won’t want to miss the Sardis Raptor Center’s Hunters of the Sky raptor bird program offering up close views of magnificent birds of prey—eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and more.

Sardis is dedicated to helping rescue, rehabilitate, and release some of our most amazing wild birds found in the Northwest.

In the Haggen Kidz Zone, the Children’s Museum of Skagit County will be here along with Frankie the Fire Engine providing lots of fun and goofy activities for the younger crowd to do. The face

painting artists from We Paint Faces are back bringing happiness and fun designs to little faces.

For the adult crowd, we have the beer and wine garden with handcrafted pints on tap from North Sound Brewing Co. We’ve expanded our vendor row with a great selection of artisans who have created beautiful jewelry, apparel, woodwork, handcrafted soaps and more for you to purchase and enjoy.

But most importantly, be sure to take part in the Festival’s “Passport” activity provided by Shell Puget Sound Refinery.

Learn about our amazing Skagit River watershed and ways you can help protect its resources, with over 30 environmental agencies and nature groups in the Skagit Watershed Council’s Conservation Alley providing a wealth of fun facts, free materials and information. Answer a question at a booth and have your Passport stamped. Once your Passport is filled, turn it in to become eligible for a host of great prizes.

On behalf of the board of directors, our Festival planning team, sponsors, vendors and volunteers, we thank you for your support and participation in the Skagit River Salmon Festival. Enjoy the day!

Kevin Tate Board President Skagit River Salmon Festival

THE CITY OF

MOUNT VERNON

IS PROUD TO BE PART OF

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THE SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

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CONTENTS 2

Festival is a Community Celebration

13 Entertainment Schedule

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Skagit Central to Orca Whale and Puget Sound Chinook Recovery

15 Pollinators

Restoring Salmon Habitat Increases Food Source for Orcas

20 2019 Festival Featured Artist: Ramon Shiloh

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18 Learning About Our Source Water 21 Shell Puget Sound Refinery Skagit River Passport to Prizes!

11 The Problem with Plastics 12 Festival Map

23 Skagit Valley Herald Coloring Contest

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Salmon FeStival

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Skagit Central to Orca Whale and Puget Sound Chinook Recovery

By Richard Brocksmith, Executive Director Skagit Watershed Council Many people in the Pacific Northwest have either grown up with, or have come to love, our Orca whales. They live alongside us in Puget Sound; they have strong, mother-led family groups who teach their young how to survive in the wide world; and their intellectual capacity and curiosity, maybe even feelings, have captured our imagination.

Most folks know our local Orca whales are in very serious trouble and might not survive much longer without significant changes from our human society. A few background facts that are important: • Orca whale family groups or “pods” live in every ocean in the world, but three pods (named J, K, and L) have evolved to become their own species in Puget Sound. They are known as “Southern Residents.”

• These Southern Residents eat only salmon, unlike the “transient” pods that eat marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.

• The salmon-eating Southern Residents have seen a population decline over the last 25 years, dropping from a high of 98 whales to a low of 73 whales. This decline caused the federal government to list them as endangered with extinction under the Endangered Species Act.

Spyhopping in the Salish Sea. • The recent decline is blamed first and foremost on the dramatic decrease in their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, but also due to increases in water-borne contaminants and boat noise. Southern Residents prefer Chinook salmon at least 80% of the time (with chum and other salmon making up the balance) because of that salmon’s larger size, fat content, return timing, and the fact that some of them choose to reside in Puget Sound instead of going out to the Northern Pacific Ocean.

“The river is alive. It is an essential part of our lives. When it is vibrant and healthy, our well being is preserved. We must heal and protect this precious resource, not just for our own tribal treaty rights, but because it’s a wise and respectful thing to do for everyone who lives here.”

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• Interestingly, the transient whales, who as their name implies range further around the West Coast than the Southern Residents (including into Puget Sound), have been increasing during this same time period. That’s because unlike salmon, their favorite prey item of seals and sea lions have increased.

Southern Resident Orcas range from the Queen Charlotte Islands in Canada down to the California Coast, but historically spent much of their summers in Puget Sound. They historically had access to rich salmon fishing grounds that included the Fraser River, Puget Sound, the Columbia River, and the Sacramento River, all of which produced

huge runs of Chinook salmon. This “biocomplexity” of having different rivers to fish allowed them to adjust their feeding locations as different rivers had higher or lower success in producing Chinook salmon from year to year.

Southern Resident Orcas historically chose Puget Sound in the spring and summer as they had ample access to Chinook salmon returning to the Fraser River in Canada as well as Puget Sound Rivers.

Also, these Chinook demonstrate different run timing, so that some come back in spring, some in summer, and some in fall, providing that biocomplexity and thus reducing risk if one Chinook population should crash in any year.

Water = Life

Except for the air we breathe, water is the single most important element in our lives.

It’s too precious to waste.

Use it wisely.

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For simple water-saving ideas you can use at home or work, visit www.SkagitPUD.org.

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is a fact that we as Skagitonians, or those that come to play in Skagit, can be very proud of, but also hopefully will embrace as strong environmental advocates for preserving and restoring this special place.

Time is of utmost importance as our Orcas face a very real threat of extinction.

To learn or do more to help Skagit recovery Southern Resident Orca Whales and Chinook salmon, you visit www.skagitwatershed.org.

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Here’s where the Skagit River comes into play. Of all the Puget Sound Rivers, Skagit produces more than half of all wild Chinook, both historically and today, which is roughly an order of magnitude more than any other river. Anywhere from 5,000 to 25,000 Chinook salmon return to the Skagit River every year! The Skagit is also the largest contributor of spring Chinook salmon in Puget Sound by far, with several thousand of them returning annually.

It’s easy to see why the Skagit is the most important Chinook producer in Puget Sound for Southern Resident Orca recovery. This

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Restoring Salmon Habitat Increases Food Source for Orcas

By Alison Studley, Executive Director Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group Habitat restoration partners in the Skagit watershed are working diligently to restore habitat that will increase the number of Chinook salmon available as food for orcas struggling to survive in the Salish Sea. Recently, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation awarded several grants from its Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program to organizations that are implementing habitat restoration projects to increase Chinook salmon numbers in the Skagit River. This new grant source brings together diverse partners from Shell Oil, SeaWorld, NOAA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to create a larger sum of funding available for these important habitat restoration projects. Grants awarded to Restore America’s Estuaries, Skagit County Parks, and the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, are

Chinook salmon all restoring valuable side channel habitat along the Skagit River.

Recreating and restoring side channels is a high priority for recovering Skagit River Chinook salmon runs. Off-channel slough

habitat provides valuable resting and feeding areas for young salmon as they begin their incredible migratory journey from the headwaters of the Skagit River to Puget Sound.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Fresh • Wild • NOrthwest • Sustainable • traceable

Salmon SEASON IS HERE!

Haggen Food & Pharmacy • Visit www.haggen.com to see our weekly flyers, store hours and more. ©2019 Haggen • 190614-01 Mount Vernon • Burlington • Stanwood 1932390

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Salmon habitat seining group. grants are funding important projects to restore side channel habitat for Chinook salmon at three critical locations along the

Skagit River: Pressentin Park in Marblemount, to increase the number of Chinook salmon Britt Slough south of Mount Vernon, and available to orca whales.

Ovenell Slough along the Skagit River in order At Pressentin Park, Restore America’s

proud SpawnSor of the Salmon feStival Fr iday OCTOBER 11 6:30 Doors open 7:30 Films begin

10 FILMS MUSIC RAFFLE BEER & WINE

Upcoming Events and Opportunities: • Salmon Sightings Sept 14 and Nov 9 • Spawner Survey Workshop Oct 5 • October 26: Make a Difference Day at Riverfront Park • Planting Parties Nov 2, 16, and 23

A Benefit for SKAGIT FISHERIES

Get Your Tickets Today at: LincolnTheatre.com or 360-336-8955

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Photo by Jessica Newley

All Ages welcome!

For more information: www.skagitfisheries.org Skagit Publishing

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ENHANCEMENT GROUP

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Britt Slough provides critical habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon.

Estuaries is working with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group and Skagit County Parks to restore and enhance a historic side channel habitat in Pressentin Park. This restoration project will both increase available habitat for Chinook salmon as well as enhance park and recreational amenities in the Upper Skagit community.

At Britt Slough, the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group is working with the Skagit Conservation District to restore a river connection to valuable off-channel habitat near the Skagit River estuary on property owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This project will restore the outlet of Britt Slough to its historic path through an off channel wetland area in order to increase critical

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habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon as they migrate downstream from spawning areas to the estuary.

At Ovenell Slough, Skagit County

is working with the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group to remove a barrier to fish passage across a Skagit River side channel in order to reconnect this valuable off channel

Smart Water Matters

BEACON ÂŽ Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA)

Contact Your Local Authorized Badger Meter Distributor

Erik Twenge, Account Manager 425-766-3034 etwenge@nationalmeter.com www.badgermeter.com National Meter & Automation is a wholly owned distributor of 1799584

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Britt Slough seining site.

habitat for Chinook salmon rearing at Cedar Grove. Additionally, the public will gain access to reach a beautiful recreational site owned by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife along the Skagit River as part of this habitat restoration project.

These are just three examples of habitat restoration projects dedicated to helping the plight of our orca whales. Restoring habitat for Chinook salmon in the Skagit River helps to ensure there is enough food for our endangered orcas and that healthy habitat exists for many other fish and wildlife species that we love in the Pacific Northwest.

You can help our endangered orca whales by volunteering to restore salmon habitat with one of the many organizations attending the Skagit River Salmon Festival; or learning how to decrease your use of garden chemicals from information available at the Skagit River Salmon Festival; or by staying up to date and obeying boating rules in Puget Sound; or by simply making a donation to help keep crucial habitat restoration projects going in the Skagit watershed. By helping to restore salmon populations, you are helping to ensure a future for our endangered Southern Resident killer whale population.

You can learn more about what you can do for orcas and salmon at www.SkagitFisheries. org and more about the Southern Resident Orca Recovery at www.Orca.wa.gov. goskagit.com

The Problem with Plastics

It’s kind of a love/hate relationship we have with plastics

By Skagit Plastic Reduction and Recycling plastics used. Whereas in Europe, the plastic recycling rate is 30%. This unrecycled plastic Coalition has ended up in landfills, incinerators, or floating free and polluting the environment.

Plastic is an amazing thing. Invented in All that plastic will last long after its useful 1907 and perfected during the first half of life has ended. It takes 450 years for a plastic the 20th century, plastic hit the market in full-force in the post World War II era. A 1950s bottle to decompose in a landfill.

More numbers, because we love Life Magazine article touted the advent of them. And it takes a lot of energy to make “Throw-Away” living and promised how it all the plastic we use. In the US plastic would free us from the burden of household manufacturing consumes 12 million barrels chores. Plastic is durable, cheap, stain resistant, and light. We use it in so many ways, of oil each year in the production of 30 billion plastic bags. Between 8-10% of the nation’s from airplanes to eyeglasses. Its durability is oil supply is used during the manufacturing one of plastic’s attractions, but it also causes process of plastics and it is predicted that some serious problems related to disposal. plastics production will consume 20% of That “Throw-Away” lifestyle has come at a significant cost to the environment and health. the world’s oil production by the year 2050.

Nearly half of the 400 million tons of plastic By the Numbers. It is said that every produced worldwide each year is destined for piece of plastic ever made still exists on the single use items (e.g., straws, cups, bottles, planet today. An estimated 6,300 million bags) that have an average useful life of only metric tonnes, or 90.5% of all plastic waste ever manufactured, has never been recycled.

Americans only recycle about 9% of the PLASTICS | continued on page14

Upper Skagit Indian Tribe

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Festival Map Information Booth & Merchandise Volunteer Check-in First Aid

MAIN ENTRANCE

Skagit Watershed Council Conservation Alley Food

Vendors Sardis Raptor Program

Haggen Kidz Zone

Outdoor Recreation Area

Beer & Wine Garden

All Ages Dining Main Stage

WEST ENTRANCE Food Vendors Amigo Rigo’s Tacos Arbia Pizza Big Scoop Sundae Palace Java Jo’s On the Go Kona Shaved Ice Ma & Pa Kettle Korn Picket Fence Corn Roasters Random Acts of Food Samish Foods (Salmon BBQ)

Gaia Blends GooBees Honey Emporium Jerry’s Recycle Lichenology Maiben Fixtures and Furnishings Melody Bottemiller No BS Custom Jewelry Orcas Oasis Jewelry PNW Vibes Proverb 31 Creations SewArtDesigns Tami’s Treasures Tapphire Creations TieDye Jana Tori Tornado Woods Art Co.

Arts & Crafts Auba Maes Designs Barn Cat Creations BobKat Creations ComFort by ChristyFaye D & D Designs Delightful Dahlias OUTDOOR RECREATION AREA Doggone Hippies Ducks Whimsical Woodwork Fidalgo Fly Fishers Mount Vernon Parks Elk Ridge Gardens Foundation Featherchef Flies and Carvings Skagit Search & Rescue

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Skagit Conservation District Skagit County Skagit County Noxious Weed Control Board Skagit County Public Works Skagit Land Trust Skagit Watershed Council Skagit Public Utility District Conservation Alley Skagit River Bald Eagle Bats Northwest Awareness Team Department of Natural Skagit River System Resources Cooperative Eco-Lógica Magazine Skagit Valley College National Fish and Wildlife Skagit Watershed Council Foundation SR³ North Cascades Institute Swinomish Indian Tribal Northwest Indian Fisheries Community, Dept of Commission Environmental Protection Orca Network The Nature Conservancy Pacific Mammal Research The Salish Sea School Puget Sound Energy The Whale Museum Puget Soundkeeper Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group Washington Wild Commercial/Direct Sellers Banner Power Solutions Color Street Gutter Helmet Lipsense

Skagit Publishing

Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center WSU Skagit County Extension Shore Stewards and Master Gardeners Haggen KIDZ ZONE Children’s Museum of Skagit County Facepainting by We Paint Faces Bouncy House provided by Bouncyhouse.com Knockerball Seattle Haggen Food & Pharmacy Cultural Activities Ramon Shiloh, Featured Festival Artist Roger Fernandes, Native American Storyteller & Crafts Samish Indian Nation Working Artists

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On Stage at the Skagit River Salmon Festival RED YARN Red Yarn (Family) 11:15 a.m. – Noon Red Yarn (aka Andy Furgeson) is a Texas-born, Oregon-based family performer who weaves folk-songs and puppetry into high-energy shows for all ages. With his engaging performances, this red-bearded bard reinvigorates American folklore for younger generations.

EN canto brazilian orchestra

The Woods Sisters (Indie Rock) 1:50 – 2:20 p.m.

3:55 – 4:25 p.m.

The Woods Sisters are a powerful Indie trio that bring soulful harmonies to life in The woods sisters the ethereal way that only siblings can. They write deep yet catchy tunes, and cover a range of crowd-pleasing classics with their own personal flair. Savanna, Ireland and Paige have been singing together for 20 years, giving them years to develop their own unique styles that blend together beautifully.

Marina & the Dreamboats (Jazz Blues) 2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

After being diagnosed with a tumor that threatened her right arm, Marina Christopher felt a fire to launch her dream project.

Writing and recording between surgeries and radiation therapy resulted in ‘Marina and the Dreamboats’, a sassy and soulful band performing songs with depth, humor, and a contagious amount of pure joy. Marina and the Dreamboats deliver an addictive blend of jazz, soul and classic pop, and aren’t afraid to throw in a New Orleans second line for good measure.

MARINA & THE DREAMBOATS

En Canto Brazilian Orchestra (Brazilian) 12:10 – 1:40 p.m.

En Canto’s music is a combination of swirling Brazilian rhythms and irresistible melodies. The sound is fueled primarily by twin accordions and tinged with the jazz backgrounds of several of the musicians.

A multi-ethnic female-led sextet, En Canto is Seattle’s only Forró band. Forró music is a combination of multiple Brazilian rhythms including baião, xote and arrasta-pé. The word refers to both the musical genre and the accompanying partner dance party events where it is heard.

Sardis Raptor Center

Sardis Raptor Center 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30 p.m.

The Sardis Raptor Center presents the Hunters of the Sky raptor show with an introduction to birds of prey. It’s a chance to see these magnificent birds up close and learn about their natural history, species identification, environmental issues and the roles raptors play in our watershed. goskagit.com

Skagit Publishing

The Warren G. Hardings (Bluegrass) 4:35 – 6 p.m.

The Warren G. Hardings, an award-winning dance string band from Seattle, hearken back to their forefathers with a unique brand of up-tempo bluegrass. Playing organic, handmade traditional bluegrass infused with THE WARREN G. HARDINGS infectious influences of Pop and Americana, they entertain with highenergy tunes you can’t help but dance to.

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killing one million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals, large numbers of sea turtles and 10-15 minutes before they become part of the sharks, and countless fish. Nearly half of the waste stream. For example, single use plastic world’s most important fish stocks for human bags like those from the grocery store are only consumption have been reported to contain used for an average of 12 minutes! plastic.

Plastic in the oceans. Eight million metric tons of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year. Eighty percent of the plastic waste entering the oceans is from landbased sources, washed into the ocean after it is washed into rivers and streams. Plastic released at sea from fishing, shipping, and other maritime activities accounts for only 20% of the plastic entering the ocean. Animals get entangled in ocean plastics and they ingest it along with the toxics that adhere to it. It has Microplastics, tiny fragments causing been estimated that each year plastic waste is big problems. Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic that are less than 5 mm in length. Some microplastics, like microbeads, are purposely manufactured while other microplastics are the result of the degradation of larger plastic debris. Ocean plastics eventually break down into microplastics, which have been found literally everywhere in the ocean where they have been looked for.

PLASTICS | continued from page11

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On some beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii, as much as 15% of the sand is actually grains of microplastic. When consumed by marine organisms these microscopic pieces of plastic can cause physical damage and release toxins.

Plastics have a natural affinity for toxicants and acts as a toxic conveyor belt, sponging up pollutants transferring it to everything that eats it.

Plastics on our plates. Not only are marine organisms being directly impacted, humans may be impacted by consuming contaminated fish and shellfish. Research on the impacts of human consumption of microplastics through the food chain is growing but little is known about the impact on human health. Recent research conducted in the Salish Sea has shown that small plastics are widespread along shorelines and that filter feeding organisms like mussels, clams, and oysters are contaminated by plastics they have ingested from the surrounding waters.

What to do, what to do? Reduce your use of plastics, especially single use plastics!

Adopt some “simple swaps” to reduce single use plastics in your life. Carry your own water bottle instead of using single-use plastic water bottles. Bring reusable shopping bags instead of using plastic grocery bags. Bring your own cutlery when you are eating away from home instead of relying on plastic cutlery. Use your reusable coffee cup instead of buying a single use cup. These simple habits can have a big impact when included in our daily routine. Plastics are all around us in our daily lives, so it can seem like a daunting task to reduce plastics in our lives. Just think of it as a journey to transition away from a “ThrowAway” lifestyle to one that is better for our environment and health.

The Skagit Plastic Reduction and Recycling Coalition is a partnership between Friends of Skagit Beaches, Skagit County Solid Waste, and the Washington Department of Ecology. goskagit.com

Pollinators

BY ALIX FOSTER, WSU SKAGIT COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS

Who they are and their importance Pollinators are more than bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. They are all of the animals that move pollen between flowers, including moths, wasps, flies, beetles, and some bats.

In fact, beetles were among the first insects to visit flowers. Some of our local pollinators will be familiar to you, others may not. · Birds: Anna’s hummingbird, Rufous hummingbird · Bees and wasps: Bumble bees, mason bees, leaf-cutter bees, honey bees, wasps · Butterflies: Puget blue butterfly, western tiger swallowtail, spring azure butterfly · Flies: Hover fly, mosquito, house fly, dance fly, small-headed fly · Beetles: Soldier beetle, soft-winged flower beetle, tumbling flower beetle, long-horned beetle, false blister beetle,

Soldier beetles are one of several beetle varieties that aid in pollination. some click beetles

flowering plants. They play a key role in our ecosystem and are an essential link in agriculture. They are critical to the production

Why are pollinators important?

Pollinators are almost as important as sunlight, soil and water to the reproductive success of more than 75% of the world’s

POLLINATORS | continued on page16

WILD CAUGHT Find 100% Sustainable Salmon in the Co-op

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POLLINATORS | continued from page15 of many of our food crops, including most fruits and vegetables. According to the Farm Service Agency, “Animal pollinators, especially bees, are critical for producing more than one-third of our food products.

In fact, bee-pollinated commodities account for $20 billion in annual U.S. agricultural production …” They also provide nutrition in the form of seeds and fruits for many wild animals, both large and small.

What is pollination? Pollination is the means by which plants reproduce. It generally occurs when pollen grains from a flower’s male parts (anthers) are transported to the female part (stigma) of the same species. After landing on the stigma, the pollen grain grows a tube that runs down the part of the flower called a style to the ovary, where fertilization occurs and seeds are produced. Most plants cannot set seed without being pollinated. While wind and water can also move pollen, most plants depend on pollinators to transport pollen.

Western Tiger Swallowtail is a local pollinator.

Plants produce nectar to attract pollinators.

As pollinators collect nectar from one flower, some of the pollen grains attach to their legs, abdomen, and/or other body parts. When the pollinator moves to the next flower, the

2019 SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

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pollen grains are likewise transported, some of which are then deposited in that flower.

Other plants produce scents that attract pollinators. For example, scents associated with beetle pollination are often spicy, sweet, or fermented.

What can you do for pollinators?

Providing wildflower-rich habitat is the most significant action you can take to support pollinators. Sunny spots are best for most pollinator-friendly plants. · Native plants are often the best sources of nectar and pollen for native pollinators and can serve as larval host plants for some species of pollinators.

- Choose a variety of colors and shapes to attract a range of pollinators.

- Choose plants with bloom times from early spring to late fall.

- Plant in clumps rather than single plants.

- Encourage combinations of annuals and perennials. · Habitat for nesting, resting, egglaying and larval food is important to keep pollinators around.

- Choose a diversity of plants from shrubs, tall grasses, to low-growing plants.

- Keep some fallen branches and brush in places in your garden.

- Provide small patches of bare ground. goskagit.com

- Tolerate damage to leaves and flowers caused by the pollinators. · Avoid pesticides and herbicides.

Chemicals in these products can kill butterflies and beneficial insects in both their adult and larval stages— either directly through exposure or indirectly through foraging pollen and nectar and taken back to the hive.

Systemic insecticides are suspected of playing a role in pollinator declines.

Herbicides, while normally not directly lethal to insects, can reduce plant diversity and thus essential pollen and nectar for pollinators. · Provide a water source.

Butterflies often congregate on wet sand or mud to drink water and extract minerals from the damp puddles.

Many people are familiar with birdbaths, but remember to give birds, as well as bees and other insects, a landing pad so that they can drink the water from the bath.

Proud SPonSor 2019 Skagit RivER Salmon FEStival

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Learning About Our Source Water

Skagit Public Utility District’s Judy Reservoir

Community Outreach Program Aims to Teach Value of Water Water is one of life’s most precious elements. We have the same amount of water today as we did when the Earth was formed.

Many people take for granted the simple group tours of Skagit Public Utility District’s act of turning on a faucet and getting a cold Judy Reservoir, visitors can now discover how glass of water. Through community and school their water is cleaned and made safe to drink before it’s piped out to 70,000 people in Skagit County.

Taking Science Outside

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As a way to create greater awareness around the value of water, Skagit PUD offers area schools a unique science and social studies opportunity called The Story of Drinking Water.

The program is an exploration of water’s role in our environment and society, with an emphasis on the importance of a safe and reliable water supply.

The Story of Drinking Water program covers subjects and activities such as the hydrologic cycle, forms of water, water supply, water treatment, water distribution, conservation, weather, ecosystems, waterborne diseases, and more.

C O N TA C T

“All activities adhere to science curriculum, and many include math, social studies and language arts,” Skagit PUD Community Relations Manager Kevin Tate said.

For more information call: 800.822.9987 or visit us at: www.kayesmith.com

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To help teachers take science outside the classroom setting, Skagit PUD also offers free field trips that include a tour of Judy Reservoir, the Water Treatment Plant, and a visit into the watershed. Transportation reimbursement is available for schools served by Skagit PUD water.

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Students explore an interpretive sign at Judy Reservoir.

Did You Know?

Formed in 1936, Skagit PUD operates the largest water system in the county, providing nine million gallons of piped water to approximately 70,000 people every day in the cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley. The PUD maintains over 650 miles of pipelines.

Interpretive Displays Colorful interpretive displays are installed inside and out at Judy Reservoir and the Water Treatment Plant for visitors to enjoy.

Locally owned & operated by local fishermen & women.

Visitors learn about the sources of their water, plus the processes of coagulation, flocculation, filtration, and disinfection that drinking water must go through before distribution.

Jams • Jellies • Salsas • Honey • Sauces Flavored Olive Oils • BBQ Sauces • Spices Handcrafted Balsamic Vinegar • Pasta

360.707.2722 | 18042 Hwy 20 | Burlington | www.SkagitFish.com

EBT Accepted

Thanks, Skagit River Salmon Festival, for bringing the community together.

Protecting Water Resources Constant use and pollution threaten water resources. Experts estimate that nonpoint pollution, that is, agricultural and urban runoff combined with pollution by individuals, threatens our water resources more than industrial pollution.

Each of us has a role in keeping water safe to drink. It’s important to take action to conserve and protect our water resources every day.

We’re glad to be part of it.

Skagit PUD hopes The Story of Drinking Water school program and community tours encourage an appreciation for this precious resource and inspires the adoption of personal conservation measures to protect our waters for future generations. For more information about community group and school tours, please visit SkagitPUD.org or call (360) 424-7104.

Let’s create tomorrow, together.

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Shop Here for LOCAL Gift Items

Gifts For “Foodies” • Dungeness Crab • Oysters for Every Taste • Fresh Fish • Clams • Mussels • Shrimp • Scallops • Smoked Fish

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From learning about the different phases in the water cycle to identifying the varied wildlife found in the Cultus Mountain watershed, the displays visually reinforce many of the concepts and processes discussed during tours of the facility and a visit to a source water stream,” Tate said.

Highest Quality • Local Shrimp

bannerbank.com ~ 800-272-9933 Skagit Publishing

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Skagit River Salmon Festival 2019

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2019 Festival Featured Artist:

Ramon Shiloh

American author, illustrator and storyteller Ramon Shiloh is the 2019 Skagit River Salmon Festival’s featured artist. Shiloh’s artwork, titled Salmon Run, represents “the life of the sockeye, coho, chum, pink and Chinook swimming against the force of the river bed; leaping to reach its destination.”

“Leaping with our tired and determined sockeye, Salmon Spirit is a reminder their life-cycle continues on,” Shiloh explained.

Shiloh has illustrated several award-winning books including The Otter, the Spotted Frog & the Great Flood, which is a mythical story based in America before humans existed on earth, and ends with the creation of First Man and First Woman.

Shiloh’s other activities include support for arts programs related to minority issues. His contributions to Native youth projects include serving as a mentor for the “Young Native Voices Theater Education Project” in Los Angeles. He was honored as a facilitator and storyteller for the Underground Railroad Research Program titled “A Trail of Tears” in 2000 working with Rosa Parks.

Ramon Shiloh’s Salmon Run poster was created using colored pencils and ink.

Shiloh has produced and directed planetarium shows for the Minolta Planetarium in Cupertino, Calif., for the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center at Balboa Park in San Diego, and for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Ore. He has also worked as the arts and culture editor for ColorsNW magazine and illustrated a monthly comic strip titled “Life Without Colors.”

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Please visit Shiloh’s booth where he will be signing commemorative Festival posters featuring the Salmon Run artwork.

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Shell Puget Sound Refinery Skagit River Passport to Prizes!

You could be the next winner! Enter to win fantastic raffle prizes at the Skagit River Salmon Festival by visiting nine participating conservation booths, getting your Passport stamped, and completing a Skagit River Passport entry card before turning it in. Passports can be found on-site at the Information Booth and at participating conservation booths. Skagit River Passport raffle drawings will be held throughout the day in the Main Stage area.

Winners can claim their raffle prize at the Main Entrance Information Booth.

Grand Prizes Whale watching for two aboard Island Adventures, Patagonia Shareable Feast Gift Box by Patagonia Provisions Salmon wood carving by Skagit artist John Wells. Lummi Island Wild Gift Box. Handcrafted aqua-colored oval glass platter by artist Melissa Ballenger. One of a kind specialty design.

BURLINGTON

Skagit River Passport Raffle Drawing Times

SKAGIT RIVER PARK 1100 S. Skagit Street Brought to you by City of Burlington Parks & Recreation

1:40 p.m.

2:20 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

Grand Prizes at 6 p.m.

(360) 755-9649

burlingtonwa.gov/pumpkinpitch Pumpkin Pitch Public Viewing in Pit 10AM - 11:15AM

Proud SPawnSor of the Skagit river Salmon feStival

Opening Ceremony Accuracy and Distance Competition 11:30AM

Free Kids Zone

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Pumpkin Painting Activity Booths Pony Rides lnflatables Zucchini Car Races

Food Vendors Mighty fine vittles from sublime food vendors

Proud Sponsor of the Skagit River Salmon Festival

Free Wagon Rides to and from Parking Lot No Admission, Activity or Parking Fees

HAPPY • HEALTHY • FIT 1932345

Inspiring Success ~ Delivering Excellence www.portofskagit.com 1932560

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Skagit Publishing

Skagit River Salmon Festival 2019

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SKAGIT RIVER SALMON FESTIVAL

Spawnsors Silver Level

Sockeye Level

Conservation Alley Title Sponsor

Skagit River Passport to Prizes Title Sponsor

Kidz Zone Title Sponsor

Steelhead Level

Badger Meter/National Meter Automation • Banner Bank • City of Anacortes Samish Indian Nation • Sierra Pacific Foundation • Skagit County

Entry Ticket Sponsor: RH2 Engineering Humpy Level

Anderson Electric • Adventures NW Magazine • HDR • Kaye-Smith Natural Systems Design • PogoZone • Port of Skagit • Puget Sound Energy

Fidalgo Fly Fishers • HB Jaeger • Skagit Land Trust

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Entry Ticket Sponsor: Skagit Valley Food Co-op Chum Level

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Skagit Publishing

Skagit River Salmon Festival 2019

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R am on

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Submit your entry to Skagit Publishing, (1215 Anderson Rd., Mount Vernon, WA 98274) via mail or in person prior to Friday, September 6, 5pm. Winning entries will be printed in the Skagit Valley Herald. Must be 14 years or younger to enter.

Phone or Email:____________________________________________________

Age:__________

Name:___________________________________________________________

SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD COLORING CONTEST

Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program Increasing availability of prey

Improving quality of habitats

Strengthening management through research

l tiona a N the ife Visit nd Wildl th o a Fish tion’s bo r da ive Foun Skagit R l! e a at th on Festiv Salm

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